Jessica Holmes has shared an emotional tribute to her late husband, TV presenter Jonnie Irwin, on the second anniversary of his death. Irwin, best known for his work on Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun and the BBC‘s Escape to the Country, died on February 2, 2024, aged 50, after a long battle with terminal lung cancer which had spread to his brain.
His family confirmed the news with a statement saying he “fought bravely” and “touched the lives of so many with his kindness, warmth and infectious spirit.” Jonnie and Jessica married in 2016 and had three sons; Rex and four-year-old twins Rafa and Cormac.
In the years before his death, Jessica was open about Jonnie’s illness and their family’s journey, sharing candid updates with their followers on social media. On Monday, February 2, Jessica posted a photo of a tree to her Instagram story with a poignant message reflecting on the past two years.
She wrote: “How has it been two years. Keep helping me as you are with the boys. I miss you my favourite,” alongside a red heart and tree emoji.
Before his death, Jonnie had spoken about his hopes for his sons and the legacy he wanted to leave them. In a 2023 interview with Hello! magazine, he said he wanted his boys to grow up confident in themselves. He said: “I want them to believe they can do anything.
“I want them to be confident, but believe in yourselves, because you can do anything… I’ve seen their capabilities and they’re boundless.”
Jonnie made his terminal diagnosis public in November 2022, when he said his lung cancer had spread to his brain. At the time he said he hoped sharing his illness would encourage others to “make the most of every day”.
However, he previously revealed why he decided to not tell his children about the diagnosis. He said: “I keep being asked, ‘Are you going to tell them?’ but tell them what?
“It would be horrible news that they’d have to get their heads around. And it would confuse the hell out of Rex – he’s got a shocking enough day coming. Let’s bury our heads in the sand for as long as possible.”
Irwin first noticed something was wrong in 2020 while filming abroad when his vision blurred, and subsequent tests revealed the cancer had spread to his brain.
Irwin’s openness about his illness resonated with many fans and colleagues, who praised his positivity and courage in the face of adversity.
Since his death, tributes from co-stars and viewers alike have highlighted his warmth, professionalism and the impact he had on audiences over nearly two decades on television.